Welcome to the Flame Furnace Blog

With this cold weather out there, having a working furnace is imperative.  It could sure be a chilly problem if  it stopped working.  Before calling professionals, like Flame-check some of these things out on your own first:

• Reset the Furnace (the re-set switch looks like a light switch on your furnace, turn it “off” for about 20 seconds and then back on)
• Check your electrical panel for blown fuses

These are simple things, but just a small problem like a blown fuse or switch flipped the wrong way could turn your home into the Ice Hotel.  If after checking the reset switch and the breakers, your furnace still does not work-call Flame.  (also, even if it does turn back on after re-setting the reset switch, you should still call Flame to see if there is a larger problem of the furnace shutting off to begin with).

Any Questions?  Contact Flame and Stay Warm!

Also Check out Some other Flame FAQ’s

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Even though the weather has not been too cold recently, we all know that that can change in an instant in Michigan.  Therefore, it is always important to maintain your furnace, so it maintains you when the cold strikes.  Here are some things you can do to help make sure that your furnace is running smoothly:

1. Change your furnace filter!  This should be done monthly as it helps to keep your furnace running more efficiently because a clogged and dirty filter means that the furnace has to work harder to push enough hot air into the desired room.
2. Make sure to have your furnace inspected about once a year.  These inspections will check various parts about your furnace that you may not even be aware of (such as checking the flue draft and/or inducer motor).  This is imperative because the inspection can help to foresee or spot problems before they get too large.
3. Though your furnace may be located in prime storage space in your home, you should keep the area around it clear.  A good rule of thumb to follow is, make sure 1 foot surrounding it is clear in the back and the sides and you should give the furnace 2-3 feet of space in the front.  Also, do not store paints,aerosol cans, boxes, sheets etc.. around your furnace due to flammability.  For more information about this, check out the “Ask the Furnace Doctor Video”: “One Minute Tips from Flame about Keeping the Furnace Area Clear.“

Hopefully these tips will help you keep your house nice and warm when Michigan decides to snap!  Contact Flame for any questions or comments.

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Extra!  Extra!  Read all about it!  Flame is having a “Furnace Inspection Blowout” where a furnace inspection is only $49.50!!  This is a huge savings and it is a lot less than you could spend if a problem occured with your furnace later.  Therefore make sure to troubleshoot these problems ahead of time.

However, you better act now because this is the last week to take advantage of this offer–it ends January 31.  (If you want free furnace inspections and savings on other things all year round, look into the the Flame Gold Plan)

Questions?  Contact Flame!

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Pipes bursting can be a major problem!  It can cause lots of damage to your home and it can also be very expensive to clean up.  One of the reasons that pipes burst is due to cold temperatures since when the water freezes, it expands.  One way that you can prevent having this happen is by keeping the temperatures around 50 degrees or above and to maintain this you can have a sensor that’s connected to your alarm that will immediately call Flame if the temperature drops below a danger point presumably due to a broken furnace.  This will help to keep your house warm and dry even when you are away!

Contact Flame for more information!

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Lately there has been quite a bit of snow in this area of Michigan.  This of course means that you definitely do not want your furnace to not work.  If that unfortunate circumstance occurs you may want to look to the beautiful snow as the reason for this.

Why?  Because if you have a 90% Energy Efficient Furnace or above you may have snow blocking the pipes used for intake and outtake of air!  These pipes are white PVC pipes that could be located on the side of your home.  If there is snow blocking the air then your furnace will not work.  Try cleaning out the pipe and see if you furnace starts working again, if it doesn’t-call Flame!

When shoveling or snow blowing after a big snow fall be sure to not accidentally cover the pipes!  Contact Flame if you have any questions about this or anything else!  Enjoy these snowy days.

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My family blows a fuse in our home every time more than one person is blow drying their hair at the same time.  This can become incredibly frustrating (especially on days we are all trying to get ready for something!)  Thankfully our electric panel is very easy to use.

Flame Heating, Cooling and Electrical can perform a Service Change on your home that will change the whole electrical panel so that it uses breakers instead of fuses.  Breakers are much easier to use because you just need to flip a switch instead of changing a fuse.  They are also safer.  This come quite in handy when you are often flipping breaker switches due to hair drying incidents.  The Service Change will also put a surge suppressor on your system that is helpful in the case of power outages or sporadic electric spikes so that your electronics do not become fried.

from http://www.sylviaelectrical.com

Next time the lights in your bedroom turn off and you have to go replace a fuse, think about how easy life would be if you could just flip a switch. Contact Flame if you have any questions and good luck with your electricity endeavors.

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Is is time for you to go on vacation now that the whirlwind of the holidays has ended?  If you are going on a trip or thinking about it, here are some things to consider about your home that can help you save money.

• Turn down the heat!  If you are not in your home, it is not necessary for it to be heated, right?  Also-hopefully you are some place much warmer than Michigan and heat from a furnace is the last thing on your mind.  Be careful though, you do not want to lower the temperature of your home too much-keep it above 55 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing.
• Lower the temperature of your water heater (you should be swimming in 80 degree pools or oceans…you do not need it and you do not need to pay a heating bill when you weren’t even home to use it!)
• Make sure all your chimney flues are shut!  If you live an older house you may have chimneys all over the place-so be sure to check each and every one to save money and energy.
• If you are planning an extended vacation-ask a neighbor, family member or friend to stop by every once in a while just to make sure the furnace is running so the pipes do not freeze.

All these tips can help you save some money and energy while you are having a great time on vacation!  Contact Flame for more information!

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